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Hindustan Times
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Moushumi Chatterjee compares ‘spoilt brat' Rajesh Khanna to Amitabh Bachchan: ‘Kaka needed pampering'
Veteran actor Moushumi Chatterjee recently reflected on witnessing the peak of Rajesh Khanna's stardom. In an interview with Filmfare, she candidly described him as a "spoiled brat" and highlighted the stark contrast between Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, pointing out that, unlike Rajesh, Big B never let success go to his head. (Also Read: Moushumi Chatterjee opens up on confronting Rajesh Khanna for his nasty comment on daughter: 'He thought it was fun') Moushumi recalled witnessing Rajesh's stardom and said, "He was a spoilt brat. He was a star, he had that stardom which neither Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar nor Dev Anand had seen. Maybe for a short term, but I had witnessed it. Maintaining a mental balance is very difficult when you're such a big celebrity and you know you'll turn sand to gold when you touch it. So tantrum comes out." Moushumi then went on to state the difference between Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, stating that Big B managed to keep his head in control after achieving success, unlike Rajesh. "Bolte hai naa ek unpadh gunda aur padhe likhe gunda mein bohot farak hota hai. Unke gesture, behaviour, choice of words. I have never seen Amitabh with chamchas. Never seen anybody around him. But I used to see it with Rajesh. Kaka needed that attention, pampering. So, he played his life role the way he wanted. It's really sad that he just fell hard after seeing that high." Moushumi was one of the highest-paid actors in the 70s. Her collaborations with Rajesh Khanna and Big B are still loved by audiences. She started her journey as a child actor and carved a niche for herself with memorable performances in films like Manzil, Roti Kapada Aur Makaan, and Benaam. She was most recently seen in the Bengali film Aarii, which explores the sacrifices and emotional bonds between a widowed mother and her caregiver son. The film also stars Yash Dasgupta and Nusrat Jahan in key roles.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Moushumi Chatterjee 'pities' Amitabh Bachchan, calls him a victim of his image: ‘He is always performing'
Moushumi Chatterjee, who has collaborated with Amitabh Bachchan in films like Manzil, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan and most recently Piku, opened up about her working experience with the Bollywood superstar. Moushumi, in a recent interview, gave her two cents on Amitabh's stardom and how he manages it. (Also read: Moushumi Chatterjee opens up on confronting Rajesh Khanna for his nasty comment on daughter: 'He thought it was fun') In an interview with Filmfare, Moushumi said, "Amitabh Bachchan is a very intelligent man. He always uses politically right words. I sometimes pity him because I think most of the time he is only performing because that is all that he knows. I might be wrong, but that's how I feel about him. It is because of his image. He has a huge image, which nobody else has managed to achieve.' Moushumi compared Amitabh with another Bollywood heavyweight, Rajesh Khanna and explained how both of them managed their stardom differently. Sharing the difference between the two superstars, Moushumi said, "Amitabh has managed to stay grounded despite immense success. Something that Rajesh Khanna failed at. He was blown up with his success. As the saying goes: 'Ek anpadh gunda aur ek padhe likhe gunde mein bahaut farq hota hai' (There is always a difference between a literate and illiterate goon). I have never seen Amitabh Bachchan with flatterers. However, Rajesh Khanna was always surrounded by these people. He needed that attention and pampering.' Moushumi recently returned to the big screen after a hiatus with the Bengali film Aarii. Written and directed by Jiit Chakraborty, the story explores the sacrifices and emotional bond between a widowed mother and her caregiver son. The film, which also stars Yash Dasgupta and Nusrat Jahan, was released in theatres on 25 April. Her last film with Big B, Piku, was also re-released in theatres on 9 May. On the other hand, Amitabh was last seen in the Tamil film Vettaiyan and the Telugu film Kalki 2898 AD. He has yet to shoot for the sequel to the sci-fi directed by Nag Ashwin, which will see him reprising his role of Ashwatthama.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Moushumi Chatterjee says she still considers herself better person than Jaya Bachchan: 'Can't force anyone to like you'
Veteran actor Moushumi Chatterjee grabbed headlines last year when she told the paparazzi, "I am a much better person than Jaya Bachchan." Now, in an interview with Nayandeep Rakshit, Moushumi addressed her statement and opened up about her past rivalry with Jaya Bachchan. (Also Read: Moushumi Chatterjee calls Rajesh Khanna 'egoistic', says this about Amitabh Bachchan) Moushumi clarified her statement and said, "That was fabricated, but I don't like comparisons. It's your luck that you see Jaya Bachchan that way, but one incident can't define everything. Where does your humanity go then? Sometimes the paparazzi can be irritating. They don't want to listen. Once you want to stay away from the limelight, you cannot force a person to like you. But I don't like to compare. I consider myself a better person. I know that. First, you have to know yourself to understand others." She further opened up about whether there was any rivalry between her and Jaya Bachchan when they were contemporaries and said, "Oh yes, there were underlying connections. Rivalry was there, and I had also heard some stories, but I was indifferent because I was not made only for acting. I had a choice. I came from a home where there was already a car and servants. So, I was not working to achieve all that, unlike those who needed to earn money to attain those things." In 2024, during an event in Mumbai, Moushumi was seen posing for the paparazzi. The photographers repeatedly asked her to adjust her gaze and smile for the cameras. She appeared visibly irritated. Amid this, when one of her friends compared her to Jaya Bachchan, she immediately looked at the paps and said, "I am a much better person than Jaya Bachchan." She added, "Actually, aap log nahi hote toh hum kahaan hote (Actually, without you [paps], we [actors] wouldn't exist)." A post shared by Namaste Bollywood (@ For the unversed, Jaya Bachchan is often seen lashing out at the paparazzi for constantly shouting her name while clicking photographs. On several occasions, the Mili actor has been seen reprimanding photographers who try to click her pictures. Moushumi was one of the highest-paid actors in the 1970s. She is widely known for her work in Hindi and Bengali films and has delivered several hits alongside Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Vinod Khanna, and other superstars. She was most recently seen in the Bengali film Aarii. The action drama, written and directed by Jiit Chakraborty, explored the sacrifices and emotional bond between a widowed mother and her caregiver son. The film was a commercial success at the box office.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Why Tollywood clings to veterans for that elusive success: A revival at twilight
In April-May 2025, big screens in Bengal witnessed three films released with veteran stars as protagonists — Sharmila Tagore in Puratawn , Mousumi Chatterjee in Aarii and an upcoming release starring Rakhee Gulzar. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This isn't a 2025 phenomenon. Over the past decade, Bengali cinema has increasingly embraced narratives centered around the elderly — a thematic shift that has now gone beyond a 'trend', with broader societal recognition of the complexities faced by the elderly. Some would argue that it is the only film genre in Tollywood today to offer nuanced, empathetic storytelling. Thematic thread From the 1960sto the 80s, Bengali cinema, especially under the influence of auteurs like Satyajit Ray, Tapan Sinha and Ritwik Ghatak, occasionally placed senior citizens at the narrative centre. While earlier films like Jalsaghar (1958) and Bancharamer Bagan (1980) touched upon the lives of the elderly, a significant shift occurred in the mid-2010s. Films such as Belaseshe (2015) and Mayurakshi (2017) brought senior characters to the forefront, delving into their emotional landscapes, exploring themes of ageing, loneliness, familial bonds, and rediscovery. The concerted focus on senior-centric narratives has solidified over the past 10 years, indicating a sustained and growing audience interest in such stories. 120990493 Significant cultural shift The film widely credited with marking this cultural shift is Belaseshe (2015), directed by Shiboprosad Mukherjee and Nandita Roy. It broke several norms. The portrayal of senior citizens as protagonists with their own agency was the first. The film went on to become a major commercial and critical success, proving there was a sizable audience for emotionally rich stories about the elderly. Producers came forward to fund more films on intergenerational narratives – and it has been working, thus far. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In its wake, arguably, Belasesh e inspired a series of similar films, from Mayurakshi (2017) to Shonar Pahar (2018) to Gotro (2019). This focus has continued into recent years, with movies like Tonic (2021), Ei Raat Tomar Amaar (2024), Puratawn (2025) and Aarii (2025) further exploring the intricacies of elderly experiences. Soumitra Chatterjee and Swatilekha Sengupta in Belaseshe A Question of Commerce 'Films featuring senior actors often reflect Bengali culture and heritage, which resonates strongly with audiences with a deep affection. The audience's long-term relationship usually means that such films tend to perform well at the box office,' explained Joydeep Mukherjee, owner, Binodini (formerly Star) Theatre. Mukherjee was quick to point out that simply casting experienced actors isn't enough – a compelling storyline is essential to draw audiences to theatres. 'Problems arise when filmmakers follow trends and cast senior actors in roles that don't align their image or the storyline. If the character isn't justified within the narrative, it simply doesn't work,' Mukherjee said. Arijit Dutta of Priya Cinema spoke on 'phases' witnessed by the industry over decades – 'There was a phase when only action films did well at the box office. A similar phase happened with horror films. Now, elderly actors are playing pivotal characters in a film – and films like Tonic have done well at the box office,' Dutta said. Mousumi Chatterjee and Yash Daasguptaa in Aarii Veterans speak 'I am happy to see that filmmakers today are recognising the value of senior actors and casting them in lead roles — a trend long embraced by Hollywood,' said Mousumi Chatterjee, adding that she was moved by Aarii 's 'deeply empathetic storyline'. 'Experience cannot be overlooked,' said Lily Chakraborty, known for her powerful performances in films like Ardhangini, Posto , and Sanjhbati , 'Directors and producers have begun to recognise our true potential. The success of films where they play the central character is clear proof of that.' At 87, has been a veteran star of Tollywood for the past two decades — the protagonist of Toni c , one of the biggest films of recent years. 'It is important for the creator to understand a subject well before embarking on its portrayal,' said Bandyopadhyay. Paran Bandyopadhyay and Dev in Tonic Why it works? One word – relatability Bengal has the second-highest proportion of elderly women living alone, after Tamil Nadu. Narratives on loneliness are a reflection of our immediate reality. These are relatable stories – told by bankable stars, set against a familiar, Bangali mise-en-scene. Rituparna Sengupta, who acted in and produced Suman Ghosh 's Puratawn – the film that marked Sharmila Tagore's Tollywood return after a 14-year hiatus – spoke on how the core idea of the film was 'to craft a thought-provoking story centred on the relationship between a mother and her daughter'. Filmmaker Atanu Ghosh, who had cast as the protagonist in Mayurakshi, emphasised the finesse in performance from veteran actors as a game-changer. 'Actors like Soumitra Chatterjee, and Supriya Devi have an unmatched understanding of character-building and emotional nuances. Most viewers have a long personal history with them, and that can deepen a film's emotional resonance,' said Ghosh. Avijit Sen, director of films like Tonic, Projapoti, and Pradhan , emphasised how the stories call for 'experienced actors' – like Paran Bandyopadhyay, Mithun Chakraborty and Mamata Shankar. 'Veteran actors not only bring depth and quality to their performances but also enrich the entire team with their vast experience,' Sen added. Sharmila Tagore in Puratawn Tollywood's tryst with the elderly The most important outtake has been the initiation of mainstream conversations on ageing. Like Chhabi Biswas's aging aristocrat in the throes of declining feudalism in Jalsaghar gave rise to discussions on cultural preservation in an era of changes, Tollywood's new tryst with the elderly could give rise to better awareness on the struggles of old age in a world where empathy is diminishing by the hour. It is heartening to witness Indian cinema evolving in a way that celebrates experience, maturity and timeless talent – Mousumi Chatterjee Aarii would not have been possible without Mousumi Chatterjee. She could relate to the character– Nussrat Jahan Characters in film could be a part of our everyday reality – but audiences in a theatre want something beyond that. They want to see dreams being fulfilled, a story where the everyday man wins. A film that offers that will be well-received– Paran Bandyopadhyay
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Nussrat Jahan stuns in a vibrant pink sari
Nussrat Jahan turned heads with her latest glamorous post in a stunning pink sari at the promotion event of her upcoming film Aarii. Draped elegantly, the vibrant saree perfectly captured her graceful persona. Nussrat styled the contemporary-drape saree with a sleeveless blouse featuring a chic asymmetric neckline, adding a modern touch to the traditional attire. Her look was further elevated with minimal yet statement-making accessories — a sleek emerald and diamond pendant set and a matching statement ring, which beautifully enhanced the rich red hue of her ensemble. Sporting soft, voluminous waves, her side-parted hairstyle brought an old-Hollywood glamour to her overall appearance. With her radiant smile and effortless charm, Nussrat truly stole the spotlight at the event.
